- KIT COPE TESTS POSITIVE FOR STEROIDS

by Ken Pishna – MMAWeekly.com
A report from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) states that Kit Cope – competing in this past weekend’s World Extreme Cagefighting main event against “Razor” Rob McCullough – has tested positive for the illegal substance Boldenone, which is an anabolic steroid.

A comment from NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer stated, “Although we have had only one MMA show this year (last Saturday’s WEC), we already have a positive drug test for 2007 as Kit Cope tested positive for Boldenone.”

Contacted by MMAWeekly’s Damon Martin, Cope did admit to having used Boldenone, stating that it was for medicinal purposes to held speed his recovery following a surgery to repair his shoulder.

Boldenone is the same banned substance for which UFC fighter Stephan Bonnar tested positive following his rematch with Forrest Griffin in August of last year. Bonnar was suspended for nine months and fined $5,000 by the NSAC following his positive test.

An anabolic steroid that is intended for use only by veterinarians, Boldenone is used specifically to help rehabilitate injured horses. It has several brand names for veterinary use, including Equigan, Equipoise, Ultragan, and Ganabol. It is on the banned substances list of all the major athletic commissions and sports leagues.

Boldenone is not generally a popular drug among bodybuilders because of the fact that traces of the drug remain in the user’s system for several months after use. According to Food and Drug Administration filings, which cited the Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation, Boldenone is intended for use by veterinarians as “an aid for treating debilitated horses when an improvement in weight, hair coat, or general physical condition is desired.”

The FDA filings added, “Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.” Due to potential health risks for humans, the FDA has gone so far as to say that Boldenone “should not be administered to horses intended for human consumption.”

The possible side effects of Boldenone when used by humans include high blood pressure, increased water retention, elevated levels of estrogen, possible hair loss, flu-like symptoms, anxiety, and acne.

Be sure to listen to MMAWeekly Radio tomorrow night (Friday, Jan. 26th) when Cope joins the broadcast to speak exclusively with MMAWeekly’s Damon Martin & Jeff Cain about the situation.